Taxable Talk

I'm not talking about a poll tax, but a pole tax as in strip clubs. Travis County (Texas) Judge Scott Jenkins ruled that the $5 admissions tax to Texas strip clubs was unconstitutional as a violation of freedom of expression under the First Amendment.

The sponsor of the legislation, State Representative Ellen Cohen (D-Houston) plans on reviving this "cutting-edge legislation." As Joe Kristan noted on Roth Tax Updates given that the goal of this program was to tax an enterprise with a higher ratio of women who work in it, I'm sure that Rep. Cohen will look to add additional taxes to nursing, day care, teachers, and manicurists. Yeah, right....

A 166-page indictment was unsealed today in Dallas charging 16 individuals with bribery, receiving kickbacks, and tax evasion. The individuals, including State Representative Terri Hodge (D-Dallas), former Mayor Pro-Tem Donald Hill, and others face long terms at ClubFed if convicted on all counts.

The investigation, according to this report in the Dallas Morning-News, began 27 months ago when Mr. Hill's then City Hall office was raided by federal agents. US Attorney Richard Roper described the scheme as a "complex bribery and extortion scheme."

Mr. Hill told the Morning-News that he, and the others, are innocent. "We're not guilt of any of the things alleged here...We’re just going to prepare for the fight."

The tax charges are listed in counts . Mr. Hill is accused of not timely filing tax returns from 2001-2004, and failing to file in 2005 & 2006. His evasion allegedly totals over $200,000. Darren Reagan is accused of evading over $100,000 in taxes. (The more serious charges are the bribery, extortion, and fraud charges.)

All-in-all, the Dallas political scene received a jolt today. It will be interesting to see what comes of this.